Hi,

I've just seen the newest issue of 'Motor' Magazine released in Australia and there is a little bit about a new, what has been termed a 'soft-roader', 4wd with the code name P136, and is rumoured to be call the Borneo. Does anyone else have any news of this?

Jim501,

I have heard of the car from contacts at the factory, but have not seen any pictures. Did Motor magazine post any pictures of an artist's impression or a spy shot by chance? If so, is it possible to scan the image and post it here? I would be very interested. Meanwhile, I will see what I can dig up on the car. I should be able to find something.

My contacts tell me that the project has currently been shelved. The concept and codename came from the Indonesian ownership just a few years back before Audi purchased the company. With the work Audi has been doing to completely revamp the brand, there has been little room for the Borneo. It is uncertain if it will make it to production or any variant thereof. Lamborghini has nearly missed the SUV craze. It isn't certain if the SUV popularity will hold out long enough for Lamborghini to react with a production car.

Here are some images that I have found along the way of the Indonesian ownership proposal.

Lamborghini Borneo (http://www.lambocars.com/framed/highres/lm003.htm)

Thanks for the info, unfortunately it was only mentioned in a few lines in a column so no pictures. I will keep my eye out for any more on it.

I think the SUV craze will continue here in Australia for a while longer. Sales of the BMW X5 and Mercedes M-Class are going off and the release of the Porsche Cayenne is enthusiastically awaited (It is due out here before the end of the year.

Anyway, thanks once again for the info and I will keep you posted.

Jim

I hope this isn't true and the fact that it has been shot dead, hopefully is true. The SUV sector is no place for a supercar manufacturer with such a prestigious and celebrated history. Just look at the Porsche Cayenne, it's ugly as f*ck and downs my impression and respect for Porsche as IMHO it is an overpriced, ugly looking b*stard!!!

So Lamborghini, please don't jump back in this area as the Lamborghini name and Raging Bull badge should only adorn the most eye-catching, aesthetically pleasing, armageddon sounding supercars that have been so inspirational in it's past and hopefully will continue into the future. As long as Audi allows Lamborghini to do it's own thing, being a spectator and not interrupting all the time, then I believe it will be a great future for Automobili Lamborghini SpA. And I personally cannot wait!

Lamborghini - Power, Performance and most of all. Passion!

I just received this in an email for a car website in Australia. Thought you might be interested.

'Lamborghini Borneo born again
Lamborghini's plan for a high performance offroad vehicle, first touted when the Italian performance car builder was under Indonesian ownership, has been given the green light.

Lamborghini's current owner, Volkswagen Group, has approved plans for Lamborghini to build a high performance 4WD called the Borneo, which will be shown in production-ready concept form at the Paris motor show in September.

The Borneo will be based on the Volkswagen Touareg platform, and powered by the same 5.0-litre V10 engine destined for Lamborghini's L140 performance coupe (which will go head to head with the Ferrari F360 successor).

It's not know what Porsche thinks of all this, having gone into partnership with Volkswagen on this 4WD project, which sees the Cayenne come of the same Touareg platform. CarPoint understands that Porsche's Cayenne lineup will start around $100,000 for the six cylinder model, stretching to mid $200,000s for the top spec Turbo S. Lamborghini's Borneo plans are said to start around this figure, and stretch well beyond $300k for what could be the ultimate in four wheel drives.'

Well it should be an interesting motor show.

i hear that lambo will make the doors open like a regular car in the new baby lambo. I fucken hate that thats bull. they should leave a lambo a lambo not just any other car. And audi should just sit back and watch and let Italian designers do their magic. I really hope this is not true.